Tool holding device for stepladder

ABSTRACT

A storage device or tray is mounted on one step of a stepladder (usually the uppermost step) and is provided with removable trays, openings, etc. for holding objects such as small tools, small hardware, paint, etc in a position where they are readily available to a user supported on another step of the stepladder. The tray includes a clamp mounted on the tray which is adjustable relative to the tray for clamping against the step upon which the tray is mounted while the tray engages the upper side of the step, the clamp extending around one edge of the step. A removable peg, which extends through the tray and can be placed in any of multiple positions, engages the other side of the step for resisting movement of the tray while the tray is clamped to the step.

This application claims domestic priority based upon U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/567,846, filed on May 4, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a tool holding device that is mountable on a common stepladder. The tool holding device is provided with multiple accessories for holding tools (such as hammers, screw drivers, electrical drills, etc), paint and hardware (nails, screws, etc.) that are easily accessible to a user standing on a step of the stepladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stepladders are commonly used by homeowners, trades people, and others to enable work on homes, buildings, and other structures to enable work at heights that would be otherwise unattainable to a person of normal height. A person working on a stepladder must have available the necessary tools and small hardware (such a nails, screws, etc) that are required. Conventional stepladders provide limited, if any, storage for such tools and hardware, thereby requiring the user to make repeated trips on and off of the stepladder, a trip being required each time a different tool or piece of hardware is required, thus increasing the chance of accidents, spills, etc. Stepladders are commonly used for painting, which is awkward because there is no readily available area where the paint can can be stored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a storage device or tray is mounted on one step of a stepladder (usually the uppermost step) and is provided with removable trays, openings, etc. for holding objects such as small tools, small hardware, and paint in a position where they are readily available to a user supported on another step of the stepladder.

The tray includes a clamp mounted on the tray which is adjustable relative to the tray for clamping against the step upon which the tray is mounted. The tray engages the upper side of the step, the clamp extending around one edge of the step. A removable peg, which extends through the tray and can be placed in any of multiple positions, engages the other side of the step for resisting movement of the tray while the tray is clamped to the step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a storage device made according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the storage device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the storage device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 installed on a stepladder, the stepladder and the various tools and hardware stored in the device being illustrated in phantom; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the storage device installed on a stepladder, the stepladder being shown in phantom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a storage device generally indicated by the numeral 10 made pursuant to the present invention includes a tray 12 which rests upon the upper side 14 of the top step 16 of a stepladder 18 when the storage device is installed on the stepladder for use by a user standing on one of the lower steps (not shown) of the stepladder 18. It is within the scope of the invention for the device 10 to be used on one of the steps of the step ladder lower than the top step, although the width of the tray 12 would have to be such that it would fit between the support arms 20 of the stepladder 18. Top step 16 further includes a side edge 22 extending from upperside 14 and an opposite side edge 24. Side edge 22 cooperates with the underside of the step 16 to define a corner 26.

The tray 12 is defined by a pair of opposite side edges 28,30, a pair of end edges 32,34 connecting the side edges 28,30, and a bottom 36, which cooperates to define a volume that is divided into sections 38, 40 by a partition 42 which extends substantially parallel to the side edges 28,30. Parallel flanges 44,46 extend from the side edge 30 and are provided with registering openings 48 which are adapted to store small tools having elongated handles, such as the pliers and screw drivers illustrated in the drawings. As illustrated, the openings are of varying size, to accommodate correspondingly sized tools.

The section 38 is provided with openings 50 which are, somewhat larger than the openings 48, and which accommodate larger tools, such as the hammer illustrated or, for example, an electric drill (not shown). The bottom 36 within the section 38 defines a circular depression 52 which is sized to receive, for example, a paint can having a circular cross section, so that tipping and consequent spillage of the paint in the can is resisted. A projection 54 projects upwardly from the bottom 36 and is adapted to cooperate with the end edge 34, side edge 30 and partition 42 to resist tipping and spillage of a container having a square cross section.

The section 40 is provided with coplanar, parallel rails 56,58 which support movable, nestable, auxiliary trays 60,62. As shown in the drawings, the auxiliary trays 60,62 may be moved along the rails to position them as desired, may be nested into one another, or even removed entirely from the tray 12. When installed in the tray 12, the auxiliary trays 60,62 are especially adapted to store screws, nails, bolts and similar small hardware. Paint brushes may be stored on either side of the partition 42.

The storage device 10 is retained on the stepladder 18 by a generally L-shaped clamp member 66, which includes an arm 68 which extends in a generally vertical direction when the storage device 10 is installed on the stepladder 18 and a latterally extending arm 70 which extends from one end of the arm 68. The arm 68 is provided with elongated slots 72 which extend vertically when the storage device 10 is installed on the stepladder 18 and which receive correspondingly spaced bolts 74 which extend from the side edge 28 of the tray 12. The bolts 74 are received in the slots 72 to permit vertical adjustment of the clamp member 66 relative to the tray 10, so that the laterally extending arm 70 may be adjusted relative to the step 16 of the stepladder. Wing nuts 76 are threaded on the bolts 74 to retain the clamp member 66 onto the tray 10. A peg 78 is stored in an accommodative fixture 80 located in the corner defined between the partition 42 and the side edge 38. The peg 78 is received in any of aligned openings 82 in the bottom 36.

When the storage device is first installed on a stepladder, the wing nuts 76 are loosened, and the clamp member 66 is adjusted relative to the tray 10 until the bottom 36 of the tray 10 rests flat against the step 16 and the arm 70 engages the corner 26 of the step 16. In stepladders having steps with flat lower sides, the arm 70 may more fully engage the step. After the tray is positioned and the clamp adjusted to engage the step, the peg 78 is removed from fixture 80 and installed in the appropriate opening 80 that is just beyond, but closest to, the edge 24 of the upper step 16 to thereby restrict lateral movement of the tray 10 such that the arm 70 will remain engaged along the corner 26 regardless of the permitted slight lateral movement of the tray 12.

It will be noted that once the clamp member 66 is adjusted to fit a given stepladder, the storage device 10 may be removed and reinstalled on that same stepladder by merely removing the peg 78 to permit lateral sliding of the tray 12, temporarily storing the peg in the fixture 80, and then reinstalling the peg 78 back into the same opening 82, all without readjusting the clamp member 66. Because of the adjustability of the clamp member 66 and the multiple positions permitted of the peg 78, the storage device 10 can be accommodated on a wide variety of stepladders having steps of varying sized and made of varying materials, including stepladders made of wood, fiberglass or metal. 

1. Object holding device for mounting on one step of a stepladder having multiple steps for holding objects available to a user supported on another step of the stepladder, said one step having top and bottom sides and a pair of opposite edges connecting the top and bottom sides, comprising a tray, a clamp mounted on said tray and adjustable relative thereto for clamping against the one step while the tray engages the upper side of said one step, said clamp extending around one edge of said one step, and a member extending from said tray engaging the other side of the step for resisting movement of the tray while the tray is clamped to the one step.
 2. Object holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one edge terminates in a corner, said clamp extending over said corner to clamp said tray on said one step.
 3. Object holding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamp includes a pair of intersecting arms, one of said arms extending over said corner, and adjustment means adjustably mounting the other arm on said tray to permit adjustment of said clamp relative to said tray.
 4. Object holding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adjustment means includes a releasable fastener securing said other arm to said tray.
 5. Object holding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tray includes a tray bottom resting upon said one step when the tray is mounted on the step ladder, said member being a peg extending from said tray bottom for engagement with the other of said opposite edges to limit shifting of the tray relative to said one step when the clamp is installed around the one edge of said one step.
 6. Object holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tray includes a tray bottom resting upon said one step when the tray is mounted on the step ladder, said member being a peg extending from said tray bottom for engagement with the other of said opposite edges to limit shifting of the tray relative to said one step when the clamp is installed around the one edge of said one step.
 7. Object holding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tray bottom includes multiple apertures at varying distances from said other opposite edge, whereby said peg can be installed in any of said apertures to accommodate steps of varying widths.
 8. Object holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tray is defined by a tray bottom and side walls extending from said tray bottom and cooperating therewith to define a storage volume, said tray bottom engaging said one step when the tray is installed on the stepladder, said clamp being movable mounted on one of said walls to extend around the one edge of said step, and a releasable fastener securing said clamp immovable against said side when the tray is mounted on said one step.
 9. Object holding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said one edge terminates in a corner, said clamp including a pair of intersecting arms, one of said arms extending over said corner.
 10. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tray includes parallel flanges extending from one of the other of said side walls, said flanges having registering apertures for storing elongated objects.
 11. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said bottom is depression to receive a liquid container, said depression resisting tipping of said container.
 12. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein an interior partition extends between two of said side walls to divide the volume defined by said side walls and tray bottom, said partition cooperating with corresponding side walls and a projection carried by said tray bottom to receive a liquid container having a substantially square cross section to thereby resist tipping of the container.
 13. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tray includes removable auxiliary trays supported in said tray. 